Train-controlling mechanism



W. J. McKIBBEN.

TRAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, I921.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' [/J/Va/fi556/2 W. J. McKlBBEN. TRAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE'6, 192]. I

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 1:] E Xi W. J. McKlBBEN.

TRAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1921.

1,389,063. Patented Aug- 30, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. MCKIBBEN, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

TRAIN-CONTROLLING MECHA NISM.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 6, 1921. Serial No. 475,346..

To all whom itm-ag concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. McKin- BEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TrainControlling Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in train controlling mechanisms, and

it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this general character having novel and improved means whereby a train can be brought to a stop under the influence of a trip member set by a tower manor otherwise operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this general character including a member carried by a locomotive and releasable by a trippositioned adjacent the trackway, said member when'released operating automatically to stop the motive force for the locomotive and which is also adapted, when desired, to cause to operate a signal carried by the locomotive or train.

.An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character embodying a trip adapted to release a member carried by the train or locomotive to bring the train to stop and to actuate a signal, said trip being operatively connected with a switch mechanism so that said trip is moved into working position when the switch is open.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and an ragement of the several parts of my improved train controlling mechanism whereby certain important advantages are at tained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

Inor der that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a View partly in elevation and I partly in section and of a somewhat diagrammatic character illustrating a train controlling mechanism arranged in accordance with an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a semaphore arm,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating in detail the means herein di closed for maintaining the weighted member elevated,

Fig. 4: is a view in rear elevation of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of the struc ture illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantally on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, I Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain details of construction as herein disclosed, l

Fig. 8 is. a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the connection as herein embodied with a switch rod, and

Fig. 9 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of-the structure as illustrated in Fig. 8. a

As disclosed in the accompanying draw ings, T denotes a trackway to one side of which is arranged a column C herein disclosed as a pole of the type now generally employed in connection with telegraph lines or the like. Extending from the column O toward the trackway T is a bracket B which serves as a support for the vertically swinging semaphore arm S. This arm is adapted to be operated in a conventional manner from a signal tower or other location.-

As herein disclosed, thetail portion of the semaphore arm S has connected therewith an end portion of a flexible member M which extends downwardly and below a guide pulley 1 suitably secured to thecolumn C.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the flexible member M is continued overhead to the tower or other station and the portion of said member between the intermediate poles P is supported by the guide members or pulleys 2 depending from a cable 8 connecting adjacent posts. Upon pull being imposed upon the member M, the semaphore arm S is swung upwardly to substantially a horizontal position and upon release of said member M, the arm S' will drop by gravity. 4

It is "also desired that the arm S'jb e swung upwardly into substantially a horizontal or Working position in the event as switchis opened, and as herein disclosed, supple Patented Aug. 30,

mental lever 1 is fixed to the switch lever rod R, and to the outer end portion of said lever 1 is fixed a flexible member M. This member M extends downwardlyand passes under a guide member or pulley 5 herein disclosed as secured to a tie comprised in the trackwiay T. From the guide member or pulley 5, the member b1 iscontinued through a tube or conduit 6, below a guide pulley 8, and upwardly of an adjacent pole P. This member M as herein disclosed is also secured, as at 7, to the member M. lVhen the switch lever rod R is thrown over to open the switch, the supplemental lever 4 is simultaneously thrown over resulting in sufficient pull upon the members M and M to swing the semaphore arm S into extendedor working position. The throwing of the sema-' phore arm S into extended or operative position from the signal tower or other station can be effected independently of the memher M. The member M may also have secured thereto an additional flexible member F associated with desired guide members or pulleys 9 and this member 1* leads to the signal tower or other station and is adapted to operate a suitable signal such as a red light or the like within the signal tower or other station to indicate that the switch has been thrown open. When the switch is closed, this signal at the tower or other station is adapted to be automatically operated to show that the switch is in such position.

As the specific construction of this signal at the tower or other station forms in itself no particular part of my present invention,v

a detailed description thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

E denotes a locomotive. H denotes an up.- standing hollow member arranged at one side of the locomotive and in which is adapted to operate a weighted member 7. Secured to the member 7 is a flexible member 10, passing over a suitable guide roller or member 11 and opcratively engaged with the throttle lever 12 within the cab of the locomotive so that when the weight is dropped the lever will be moved into position to shut off the steam. Connected with the member 10 is a branch flexible member 14: suitably guided by the pulley 15 and which is operatively engaged with the valve of the whistle 16 so that as the weight drops, the whistle is caused to sound giving audible signal and particularly to the tower man or person at a similar station that the mechanism has oper ated, and to the engine man and the remainder of the train crew. This is of particular advantage in the event the train shouldpass into a closed block or inthe event that a switch in advance of the train has been moved into open position. The weighted member W is maintained in a raised position through the medium of a trap door 1 17 hingedly mounted Within the hollow member H. The trap door 17 is provided with an arm 18 substantially coplanar therewith and which extends exteriorly of the member M through a longitudinally disposed slot 19, said slot'19 being of such length to permit the extension or arm 18 to pass therethrough when the door 17 drops. I

Vhen the trap door 17 is in a raised or elevated position to support the weighted member 1V, a lug or finger 20 is engaged below the extension or arm 18 to maintain the door 17 raised. This lug or finger 20 is carried by the lower end portion of a plate or strip 21 fixed to the lower end portion of a vertically disposed arm 22. This arm 22 is pivotally supported intermediate its length by the member H as indicated at 23 and whereby said arm or bar is capable of swinging movement. The arm or bar 22 is of a length to extend above the member H. 7

Connecting the member H and the arm or bar 22 at a point below the pivotal mounting 23, is a retractile member or spring 24: which operates to constantly urge the lower end portion of said arm or bar 22 toward the arm or extension 18 so that the lug or finger 20 is maintained in desired position below the extension or arm 18.

. The top of the member H is closed by a' elongated arm 26 pivotally supported, as at 27, intermediate its length to the plate 25. The inner .end portion of the lever or arm 26 overlaps the upper or extended end portion of the member or bar 22 while the opposite end portion of the lever or arm 26 extends beyond the outer end of the plate 25 a distance to contact with the semaphore arm S when in extended or working position. The inner end portion of the lever or arm 26 is maintained in contact with the upper or extended portion of the member or bar 22 by a retractile member 28, herein disclosed as a. coil spring, having one end portion secured to the lever or arm 26 and its opposite end portion secured to the plate 25.

As the train advances with the semaphore arm, in extended or working position, the outer end portion of the lever or arm 26 will contact with the outer end portion of the semaphore arm'S resulting in the inner end portion of the lever or arm 26 rocking or swingingthe member or bar 22 in a direction to disengage the lug or finger 20 from below the extension or arm 1S ofthe door 17,

From the foregoing description it is i thought to be obvious that a train controlling mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use byfreason of the convenience and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A train controlling apparatus com rising in combination, an upstanding ho low standard carried by the locomotive, a trap door therein, means for holding the trap door in a raised position, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the trap door and to drop downwardly of the hollow standard when the trap door is released, a locomotive-including a lever for controlling the motive force therefor, said weighted member being operatively connected with the lever, said weighted member when dropped moving the lever to a position to cut off the motive force, and means positioned adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive for releasing the holding means for the trap door.

2. A train controlling mechanism comprising in combination, a locomotive provided with a lever for controlling the motive force for the locomotive, a trap door carried by the locomotive, a swinging arm coacting with the trap door for holding the same in raised position, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the trap door, an operative connection between the weighted member and the lever, said weighted member upon release of the trap door operating to move the lever into a position to cut off the motive force, a movable member coacting withthe trap door for holding the same in raised position, a second swinging arm carried by the locomotive and extending laterally be yond the side thereof, and means positioned adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive for contact with the swinging arm to cause said swinging arm to engage the movable member to move the movable member in a direction to release the trap door.

3. A train controlling mechanism comprising in combination, a locomotive provided with a lever for controlling the motive force for the locomotive, a trap door carried by the locomotive, a swinging arm coacting with the trap door-for holding the same in raised position, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the trap door, an operative connection between the weighted member and the lever, said weighted member upon release of the trap door operating to move the lever into a position to'cut off the motive force, a movable member coacting with the trap door for holding thesame in raised position, a second swinging arm carried by the locomotive and extending laterally beyond the side thereof, means positioned adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive for contact with the swinging arm to cause said swinging arm to engage the movable member to move the movable member in a direction to release the trap door, and automatic means for normally maintaining the movable member in opertaive engagement with the trap door.

4:. A train controlling mechanism comprisingtin combination, alooomotive provided with a lever for controlling the motive force for the locomotive, a trap door carried by the locomotive, a swingin arm coacting with the trap door for holding the same in raised position, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the trap door, an operative connection between the weighted member and the lever, said weighted member upon release of the trap door operating to move the lever into a position to out off the motive force, a movable member coacting with the trap door for holding the same in raised position, a second swinging arm carried by the locomotive and extending laterally beyond the side thereof, means positioned adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive for contact with the swinging arm to cause said swinging arm to engage the movable member to move the movable member in a direction to release the trap door, and automatic means for normally maintaining the swinging arm in contact with the movable member.

5. Atrain controlling mechanism comprising in combination, a locomotive provided 'with a lever for controlling the motive force for the locomotive, a trap door carried'by the locomotive, a swinging arm coacting with the trap door for holding the same in raised position, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the trap door, an operative connection between the weighted member and the lever, said weighted member upon release of the trap door operating to move the lever into a position to cut off the motive force, a movable member coacting with the trap door for holding the same in raised position, a second swinging arm carried by the locomotive and extending laterally be yond the side thereof, and means positioned adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive for contact with the swinging arm to cause said swinging arm to engage the movable member to move the movable member in a direction to release the trap door, the means adjacent the path of travel of the locomotive being movable into and out of operative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM J. MoKIBBEN. 

